What is your role at MWHT and what does it involve?

As a Managing Quantity Surveyor at MWHT on the Thames Water AMP7 framework, my role currently focuses on the commercial management of the various clean water capital delivery schemes that have been commissioned by Thames. Sounds a bit cliched but there is really no one typical day and can involve anything from reviewing subcontracts to undertaking the commercial analysis of a project. What underpins all these responsibilities is to ensure as a team we are best able to complete our projects in the most profitable way possible for the business whilst also ensuring they are on time, of high quality and delivered in the safest way possible. One of the best parts of my role and in particular in the Thames region is the opportunity that I have to work with talented, friendly and hardworking people from different disciplines at MWHT.

Can you describe a typical day during Ramadan?

Strangely enough, less so on the not eating and drinking bit, it is adjusting to a new daily routine that I find is the biggest challenge during Ramadan. This normally involves being up early doors for the pre-dawn meal (about 4 am) and then kickstarting my daily activities from that point onwards. The essence of Ramadan is to bring one closer to God and so the typical day, by forgoing the ‘material pleasures’ of life, is to increase spiritual activities such as prayer, involve oneself in self-reflection or partake in the recitation of the Quran (the central religious text of Islam).

How can MWH Treatment support you during Ramadan?

Fasting during Ramadan isn’t just about not eating and drinking, it’s also an opportunity to exercise discipline in other aspects of life such as showing patience and not using foul language. In that sense, it’s less about MWHT having to support and more about the fasting person using the opportunity to develop and exercise self-discipline. And so contrary to what you may have heard in the past, colleagues shouldn’t shy away from eating and drinking in front of a fasting person!

I would say if there is any support that the company could offer, it is the understanding that my daily routine (e.g. working earlier and finishing earlier) may change.

How will you be celebrating Eid Al-Fitr?

There is a great sense of camaraderie with fellow fasters – and so the celebration normally begins by offering communal prayers at the mosque (or when it is nice outside, in the park) which in my experience ends with people, quite often people you’ve never met before hugging at the end of the service which is a great feeling. The rest of the day is then usually spent visiting friends and family whilst sharing presents. Ironically it is children, who haven’t had to fast for the month, that are rewarded with the most gifts!

Whilst there is lots of lovely food prepared for the day – I tend to find my stomach has shrunk so much by the end of Ramadan that I cannot eat more than a bite 😊